Lymington is an attractive coastal town and harbour on the southern edge of the New Forest.

To many it is the place where they catch the ferry to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. But the town is well worth exploring.

There are many little lanes and alleys and its wide high street climbs up from the cobbles of the Quay.

Fronted by Georgian and 19th century buildings and houses the High Street is a charming place for visitors and shopping. On Saturdays it hosts a busy street market.

Anglo Saxon settlements were built in and around the area close to the Quay and the town gradually spread.

But Lymington was also famous for its extensive saltworks along the coastal marshes to the south of the town. During the 18th century these were the country’s main salt producers.

However, 100 years later declining demand helped by excessive taxation saw production fall with the closure of the final works by 1865.

Some buildings still survive, and the route described passes the remnants of this once important industry.

Lymington provides many options for walkers.

The route described can be easily extended with the clear paths around the sea wall and salt pans all shown on the Ordnance Survey Explorer map.

Distance: 6 miles
Time: Allow 3 hours
Map: O.S. Explorer, OL22, New Forest
Refreshments: Cafes, pubs and hotels, in Lymington and en route

1. Start from the High Street at its junction with New Street.

This is about 100m up from the Angel Hotel and at roughly the mid-point between the bottom of the hill and prominent tower and clock of St Thomas’s Church at the top. Walk down Ashley Lane, a gap between two shops, opposite New Road.

Continue along a path between a fence and a recreation ground and into a residential road, Grove Pastures. At a road junction turn right. Take care as there is no pavement.

2. At the next junction, with Church Lane, turn left. Soon the road divides. Follow the road around to the right and along Broad Lane with its attractive and varied houses.

At the end of the road cross over into Normandy Lane opposite. This quiet and narrow lane winds between fields and several large houses. Pass the gates and grounds of Lea House. Just beyond ignore a road off to the left and continue ahead. Next reach a junction with several roads.

3. Here turn left along Platoff Road. This leads down to Ridgeway Lane with a grass triangle at its junction.

Opposite is The Chequers Inn. Turn left, ignoring a footpath just past the Inn, to continue along the road for about 250m.

4. Reach the white gates for Creek Cottage and turn left through the gates along the gravel drive. Reach the cottage and old buildings that were once part of the salt production industry. Reach a wooden gate. Here a path goes off to the right and across the marshes to an attractive small inlet. The paths are marked on the Ordnance Survey maps and it is worth diverting in good weather.

However, if not, continue ahead through the gate and along a path bordered by hedgerows to emerge by a group of buildings and onto a surfaced drive. Soon an area of water can be seen on the right. This is Eight Acre Pond and provides the base for the Salterns Sailing club for children. Pass the club buildings.

5. As the drive bends left towards the road go right along the signed path. Follow the track and then either of two paths each side of a small channel.

The right hand path runs beside the Sailing Club’s pond. Only 3ft deep, the pond provides calm water, ideal for the Club’s young members. At the end of the pond turn left to follow the clear path along the top of the sea wall.

Follow this as it runs between the old salt pans and the marshy Solent shore. The salt marshes are now a nature reserve and a haven for wildlife. On the other side of the Solent is the Isle of Wight coastline between Yarmouth and The Needles.

Hurst Castle and the lighthouse on Hurst Spit are also clearly visible. Continue along the sea wall until it reaches a gate with the Yacht Haven Marina car park beyond.

6. Go through to walk along the edge of the car park and then among the boats that are high and dry on cradles. The first turn right between the boats leads to the Marina’s bar and restaurant.

Take the next turn right, still between boat hulls, keeping the Marina building on the right. Go through a gate and along a straight path with the Marina berths to the right and scrub to the left. Soon the Lymington Salt Water Pool can be seen on the left. This 110m long pool was built almost 180 years ago and continues as a popular summer venue.

Follow the path around the end of the pool and out onto a car park and public slipway. At the top of the slip is an ornate gas lamp, originally sited in Lymington’s High Street when the town’s streets were first lit in 1832. Continue through the car park and out to Bath Road.

Continue ahead with a park and pond on the right and past a large boat yard.

7. At the end of Bath Road continue ahead along The Quay. From the Quay walk up the cobbled Quay Hill and out to the bottom of the High Street.